How do I prepare for my appointment?

Please arrive to your appointment with clean skin, no lotions or oils. Clothing should be loose or not obstruct the area to be henna'd. Waxing and manicures should be done in advance.

How is henna applied?

- Henna is applied to clean, dry skin. This can take anywhere from a few minutes for a simple design to 4 or 5+ hours for a heavy bridal mehndi.

- Once dry, it will be sealed with a sugar solution, or taped with medical tape. Henna paste is left on for a minimum of 4-6 hours, though overnight is traditional and guarantees the best color.

- After 4-12 hours, the paste is gently removed by picking it off or removing the medical tape.

- You should avoid water for 12-24 hours after removing the paste for best color results. You should also avoid detergents, exfoliants, manual labor, and swimming in chlorinated water, as these things will fade the henna faster.

- Applying a natural vegetable or beeswax based oil/balm before bathing can help prolong the life of your henna design. You can do this several times a day.

- For best results, henna should be applied 2-3 days prior to your important event so that the stain is at its peak on your special occasion.

Is henna safe?

Henna is safe for use on the skin and hair. Henna is also effective in treating athlete's foot and dandruff, due to its anti-fungal properties. Some people report henna to be soothing for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, though it should never be applied to broken skin.

How long does henna last?

Henna works by staining your dead skin cells. You have 7-10 layers of them on you. Right now. Even if you exfoliated this morning! Henna can last 1-4 weeks, but usually it looks fresh for about a week and fades after that, depending on how fast your skin is renewing itself. Swimming, washing dishes, and doing housework or strenuous activity like rock-climbing or yoga can accelerate the fading process. Henna is permanent on the hair and nails until they grow out.

How long does henna take to dry?

Once your mehndi design is applied it is dry in about 30 minutes, however, it should sit for 6-8 hours, or overnight. Instead of washing the paste off, it should be scraped off and allowed to oxidize another half a day or so. You can apply a vegetable oil or beeswax-based balm to it before showering or swimming to prolong the stain. Basically, you want to allow a full 24 hours of care for your henna to achieve the darkest stain possible. During the time that the henna stain is visible on the skin, it is customary to be exempt from household chores such as cooking and cleaning.

What is Black Henna?

Black Henna is made of Coal Tar Dyes known as Paraphenyladiamine, or PPD for short. Recently it's referred to as "Para" or "kali mehndi". By any name, PPD is not safe for skin, and is banned by the FDA for use on skin. It can cause blisters, liver damage, fetal damage, and is known to be carcinogenic. Say no to "black henna", which is often found in tourist destinations like Mexico, Venice Beach, and even in India, Thailand, and Africa.